1891. Harry Fludyer at Cambridge, iii. For instance, when your aunt Sophia was with us last week it kept on yelling something about 'the pop-shop round the corner, and paying your uncle a visit.'
1897. Marshall, Pomes, 37. It's cold enough to freeze the golden balls off uncle's door.
1901. D. Telegraph, 28 Oct., 11. 5. A pawnbroker stated that his name was 'Uncle.' Mr. Fordham: Baptismal or paternal? Witness: It is my surname. Mr. Fordham: And it could not have been more appropriate to your calling.
2. (American).—A familiar address: spec. of an old worthy negro: cf. Aunt. [Pegge: the Cornish apply aunt and uncle to all elderly persons (p. 301).]
1852. Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin [Title].
1876. Bonner, Dialect Tales, 121. From the darkey settlement . . . queer old aunties and uncles hobbled out to milk them.
Your uncle, phr. (common).—Myself: e.g. Your uncle's the man to do it, i.e. 'I'll do it for you.'
Phrase. ' If my aunt had been a man she'd have been my uncle' (Ray), in derision of those who make ridiculous surmises: see Man.
See Dutch uncle.
Uncle Sam, phr. (American).—A humorous personification of the Government or people of the U[nited] S[tates]: cf. John Bull. [Usually supposed to date back to the war of 1812.]
1835. Dana, Before the Mast, 127. She was called the Catalina, and like all the other vessels in that trade . . . her papers and colours were from Uncle Sam.
1848. Lowell, Biglow Papers. For I have loved my country since My eye-teeth filled their sockets, And Uncle Sam I reverence, Partic'larly his pockets.
Uncommon, adv. (vulgar).—Very; exceedingly: e.g. uncommon bitter; uncommon cheap, etc.
Unconscionable, adv. (old colloquial).—Enormous, vast, very. [Johnson: 'a low word.']
1849. Robb, Squatter Life [Bartlett]. 'That's an unconscionable slick gal of your'n,' says I; and it did tickle his fancy to have her cracked up, 'cause he thought her creation's finishin' touch,—so did I!
Uncork, verb. (American).—To expose to view, to set forth, to cause to flow out: as when a cork is removed from a bottle: e.g. 'Uncork the swag' (thieves') = 'Unlock the bag'; 'Uncork your clack' = speak out!
Uncouth, Unkissed, phr. (old).—A proverbial allusion to the custom of saluting friends and acquaintances at meeting, but not unintroduced strangers (Nares): also (Heywood) unknown, UNKISSED.
1566. Heywood, Poems, D4. Unknowne, unkist; it is lost that is unsought.
1588-90. Mar. Martine [Cens. Lit., ix. 59]. Thou caytif kerne, uncouth thou art, unkist thou eke sal bee.
1627. Hawkins, Apollo Shroving, D. 6b. He cannot be so uncivill as to intrude, unbid, uncooth, unkist.
Unction. See Blue-unction.
Uncular, adj. (old).—Of or relating to an uncle: cf. Avuncular.
d. 1859. De Quincey, Spanish Nun, vi. His uncular and rather angular breast.
Under, subs. (colloquial).—In pl. = the female privities. To lie under (of women) = to spread (q.v.).
